Lever shock absorber



Feb. 13,1923.

G F VOIGHT k-E'VER SHOCK ABSORBER;

FILED OCT. 19; 191B,

&

INVENTOR.

Feb. 13, 1923,

, e. F. VOIGHT.

LEVER SHOCK ABSORBER.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

FILED 0CT.19. I918.

INVENTOR,

L x fit Patented Feb. 13, 1923.

earn GENE.

GEORGE E. vorcnr, or sen rnancrsco, canrronnm, assreu'osro warren s.

BURGESS, or OAK remit, rLLINoIs. I

LEVER SHOCK ABSORBER.

Application filed October 19,1918. Serial No. 258,803.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. Gnoncn F. JOIGH'I, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lever Fihoclt Absorbers, of which the following a specition.

My invention relates to improvements in lever shock absorbers of the type in which an oscillatory lever has its outer end pivoted to the vehicles axle and its inner end supported by a portion of the vehicle movablerelatively to the axle, the lever being adapted to support the outer end of the ve hicles principal leaf spring, particularly leaf springs of the typeused in connection with the Ford automobile.

An object of my invention is to provide a device of the kind named that is simple and efficientand one that will assist the principal leaf spring incushioning the vehn cle against the unevenness of the road.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a portion of the right hand side of the rear end of an automobile of the Ford type of construction, with my invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of a sad dle constituting a portion of my invention.

Figure 3 is a partial detail section and elevation approximately on the line cc of Figure 4: showing a fragment of the vehicles leaf spring.

Figure 4L is a sectional view on line (Z-(Z, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a part sectional view of my invention, showing also a portion of the vehicles axle and leaf spring.

Figure 6. is a sectional view on line aa of Figure 5. v I

Figure 7 is a top viewof a portion of the invention.

Figure 7 is a. modification of Figure 7.

- sheet metal;

Figure 8 is a view approximately online 7/b, Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a top view of a portion of the invention, a portion thereof being in section and another portion being broken away.

Figure 9 is a modification of Figure 9.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

VVhile' in the accompanying drawings my invention is shown applied to the right hand side of the rear end of a vehicle, it is to be understood that it applicable to theleft hand as well as to the-right hand side and to the front end as Well as to rear end of any machine.

Referring to the drawings:

1 designates a wheel supporting one end of to support a pivot pin5 on which is mounted the free ends of arms 6 forming the outer bifurcated end of an osclllatory lever 7.

lever 7 is disposed above the vehicles leaf spring 8 and extends in the general direction thereof.

The leaf spring 8 is disposed above the axle 2 and extends in a therewith. p

The inner end of the lever 7 is also bifurcated thereby forming a pair of arms 9 posed one on each side of the spring 8 and provided at their free ends with openings 10 through which extends a pivot'pin 11. disposed below the spring'S and-extending through openings 12 in the lower or free ends 13 of a yoke l-fl adapted to straddle the spring 8 from the upper side thereof to thereby form an underslung pivotal sup-- port for the lever.

Upon the upper face side of the spring 8 between the arms 9 is slidably' disposed a The inwardly extending section of the general direction saddle '15 which Ipreferably stamp out of It has intermediate sections struck upwardly to form a pair of cars 16 provided with openings 17tliat rotatable sup port the upper end portion of the yoke 14:, said saddle also has downwardly struck guides 18 disposed one on each. side of the spring 8 to hold the saddle laterally in place,

while permitting it to slide longitudinally of the spring. The saddle also has laterally extendlng projections 19 which are engageable with the arms 9 for restricting the long itudin'al movement of the saddle upon the spring 8. The saddle terminates in an upwardly deflectedlip adapted to assist the saddle 15 to mount any obstruction that may be upon the spring 8, as'the end oi a spring leaf.

From the foregoing it is obvious that the saddle may pivotally support the yoke it, that the yoke may pivotally support the arms 9 by means of the pivot pin 11 and a spring seat 21 upon which :is seated the lower end of a coil. compression spring 22 supporting upon its upper end a substantially circular centrally downwardly dished cap or follower 23 having two oppositely disposed slots 2% through "whichpass downwardly extending arms 25 ot' a hanger 26. The intern'iediate -section of the hanger is seated upon and is supportedby the central dished portion of the cap 23. y

The arms 25 of the hanger 26 extend downwardly through the spring 22 with their ends projecting out of the lower end thereof and are slidably disposed in recesses 27 cut in the sides of the lever 7 and extending fromtheupper to the loweredges thereoi an l-having faced sides 28 adjacent the sides of the arms 25 and faced edges 29 adjacent the edges of said arms 25.

To the lower free ends of the arms 25 is pivotally attached the outer endof the leaf spring 8. The tension of the'coil spring 22 being adapted to normally resiliently support the spring 8.

Upon the lower side of the lever 7 is disposed a principal guide lug 30 disposed at the end of the spring 8 and two minor guide lugs 31 disposed one at each side of the spring 8. Said lugs have faced edges 32 in alignment with registering faced edges 29 of the recesses 27 and are adapted to guide the lower endsof the arms '25 in their upwardly and. downwardly movements below the recesses 27. The lugs 31 are also adapted. as side guides between which the spring 8 may move upwardly and clownwardly.

In order to protect the end-of the spring 8 against wear against the lug 30, the lugmay be'concaved as at 33.

When either the spring8 or the axle 2 for any reason are forced in the direction of the other, as when the wheel of the vehicle passes over an obstruction or when it suddenly falls into a depression, either of said :t'orced movements of the said spring or axle will cause the spring to become deiie cted' whereby its outer end will be moved outwardly in proportion to the degree of said deflection, and in order to allow for the free outward movement of said outer end of said spring when it is so deflected l tilt the longitudinal axis of the coil spring 22 inwardly at thetop end and outwardly at the lower end. The tilting of said axis is automatically increased as the inner end ol the lever '7' moves downwardly with the downward inovei'nent of its support.

The guide lugs 30 and 31 and the recesses 27 are arranged in such a manner relatively to the axis ofthe coil spring" 22 that the upward and downward movements of the hanger will at all times'be in alignment with the axis of said coil sprin The said inwardly tilting of the upper end of said coil spring 22 and the alignment therewith of the upwardand downward movements of the hanger 26in its'support of the outer end ofthe leaf spring 8 constitutes one oi. the principal objects of the present invention. v

in the modification of the invention shown in Figure 7, the recesses out in the sides of the lever 7 do not extend-through to the top 01" the lever but tern'iinate in slotted openings 27 through which slidably extend the arms 25 of the hanger 26. In the modification shown in Figure 9? slotted openings 2-lextending through the cap 23 are substituted for the cut away portions designated by 24; in the regular. or preferred form of the invention.

lt is to be noted that throughout 'the r foregoing specification and the claims fol lowing, the terms out-er and outwardly shall indicate respectively ta-rthest away trom and in a direction away rmi-n the median vertical plane extending-longitudinally through the vehicle, and the terms inner and inwardly shall respectively indicate ne arest to? and in a direction toward said plane.

I claim: I

1. In a levershocla: absorber, a lever pivotally supported at its outer end and interi'nediate its ends supporting one end oi the vehicles leaf spring, and an under-slung nirotal connection between the inner end or the lever and the leaf spring intermediateits ends, said connectioncomprising a plurality oi elements pivotally connected [together above the pivotal connection'withthe lever arm and interposed between said inner end of the lever and said leaf spring.

, In a lever shock absorber. a le ver pivot ally supported at its outer end and intermediate its ends supporting one end'ot the vehicles leaf spring, and an undei'slung pivlOO lll)

otal connection between the inner end of said lever and the leaf spring intermediate its ends. said connection embodying a plurality oi inelastic elements pivotally connected together above the pivotal connection with the lever arm and interposed between said inner end of the lever and said spring.

3. A lever shock absorber comprising ale- ,ver pivotally supported at its outer end and first named means and movable relatively thereto and another portlon supporting said inner end of the lever and movable relatively thereto and adapted to hold the inner end of the lever substantially rising from the leaf .w' fl'lllgl.

A lever shock absorber comprising a lever pivotally supported at its outer end and resiliently supporting interme diate its ends one end of the vehicles leaf spring, and a connection between the inner end of said lever and the leaf spring intermediate the ends thereof,

said connection embodying means carried by said leaf spring and a pair of links pivotally supported by said means and having portions pivotally connected to said inner end of the lever below, and adapted to hold the inner end of the lever substantially from rlsing away from the leaf spring.

A lever shock absorber COIDPl'lSlIlg a lever pivotally supported at its outer end and,

supportingintermediate its ends one end of the vehicles leaf spring, and a connection between the inner end of said lever andthe spring intermediate the ends thereof, said connection comprising a saddle carried-by said leaf spring and underlying the said inner end of the lever, and pair of rigid links having ends pivotal'ly supported by said saddle and pivotally connected at their other ends to said inner end of the lever below the leaf spring. i

6. In combination, an oscillatory lever, a pivotal connection between the outer end of the lever and the axle of the vehicle, a resili-' ent connection between the lever interme diate the ends thereof and one end of the vehicles leaf spring, a saddle disposed upon said leaf spring intermediate the ends thereof and longitudinally slidable thereon, said saddle being adapted to support the inner endof said lever, and means carried by said saddle engageable with a portion of said lever for limiting the slidable movements of said saddle upon said leaf spring.

7. In combination, an oscillatory lever pivoted at its outer end'to the axle of the vehicle, a resilient connection between said said inner end of the lever-intermediate the ends thereof and one end of the vehicles leaf spring,a saddle dis po'sedon. said leaf spring intermediate its ends and movable relatively thereto, and a link having one end pivotally supported by said saddle and its other end supporting e el" and movable relatively thereto. o y

8. In combination, a lever having its outer end pivoted on the axle of the vehicle, ares1 rent connection between the lever interu'iediate its ends and one'end of the vehicles leaf spring, the inner end of the lever terminating in a pair of arms disposed one on each side of said leaf spring, a saddle disposed upon said leaf spring intermediate its ends and longitudinally slidable thereon, and a connection between the free ends of said arms and said saddle extending trans ver ely' beneath said leaf springwhereby the latter maysupport the former.

'9. In combination, an oscillatory lever having its outerend pivoted to the axle-of thevehicle, a resilient connectionbetweei'i' "the lever 'intermechate its ends and oneend of thevehicles leaf spring, the inner end of "the lever terminating in a pair of arms disposed one on each side of said leaf spring and movable relatively thereto, a saddle disposed upon said leaf spring and longitudh nally slidablethereon, a U-shaped link suplOO carried bysaid lever intermediate'its ends,

a connection between said spring and one end of the vehicles leaf spring, the inner arms disposed one on each side of the leaf spring, .a saddle longitudinally slidable upon said leaf spring, means pivotally mounted upon said saddle for supporting the said free ends of said arms andmeans rigidly connected to said saddle for engaging a portion of said lever for limiting the longitudinal movements of said saddle upon said leaf spring. i

11. The combination with the axle and leaf 'sprmg of vehicle, of a lever pivoted the inner end. of

10;: end ofsaid lever terminating in a painof lei upon the leaf spring intermediate the ends thereof, means vpivotally supported by said saddle, a pivotal connection between said means and the free ends of said arms, and

projections rigidly supported by thesaddle adapted to engage said lever whensaid sad.-

dle is moved aproper distance in either diof saidlever.

l2. Thecombinatiou with the axle and leaf spring of avehicle of a rigid lever pivotedut its outer end to saidairle, a pivotal connection between the leverintermediate the ends thereof and one end of the leaf spring, the inner end of the lever terminating in a hair of arms liavi their fre ends spaced apart and disposed one on each side of said lea a saddle disposed upon said leaf pieces on. the sides ofsaid sad- ..g eable with the sides of said leaf "for restrict-i r the transverse move said saddle relatively to said leaf ns ii ivotally supported by said i pivotal connection between said means and the free ends of said. arms below the leaf s1 13. The .ibination with the axle and leaf spring of-a vehicle, of a lover pivoted axle, a connection. between the said lever intermediate the ends thereof and one end of said leaf spring, the inner end ofthe lever terminating in a pair of arms having their free ends spaced apart and disposed one on each side of said leaf spring and movable relatively thereto, a saddle longitudinally slidably disposed upon said leaf spring, a plurality of projections carried by said saddle and extending therefrom, a plurality'ofsaid projections being; engageable with a portionof said lever for limiting the longitudinal slidable movement of said saddle upon said leaf spring in one direction, a plurality of said projections being engageable with a portion of said lever for limiting the longitudinal. slidable movement of said saddle upon. said leaf spring in the opposite direction, a yoke straddlingsaid saddle and pivotally supported thereby,and a pivotal connection between the free ends of said yoke and the free ends of said arms.

"1 The combination with the axle and leaf spring of a vehicle, of alever pivoted at its outer end to said axle, aconnection between the lever intermediate the ends thereof and one end of said leaf spring, a saddle longitudinally slidable upon saidleaf spring intermediate the ends thereof, interacting stops on said saddle andleverto limit movement of the saddle on said spring, and a' connection between said saddle and the inner end of saidjlever.

15. The combination with the axle and leaf spring of a vehicle, of a lever .pivotally supported at its outer end by the axle, a connection between the' lever intermediate the ends thereof and one end of the. leaf spring, a saddle longitudinally slidableupon said leaf spring intermediatethe ends thereof, adip on the innen end of the saddle having its free end deflected upwardly from said leafspring, and a mgid link connection between said saddle and the inner end of .tudin'ally slidable saooie said lever, embracing interacting stops on said parts.

us. In combination, ales-f spring, a longidisposed.thereon, and bovin means to pivotally connect it to said lever below said leaf a lip on the inner endof the saddle, said lip having its free endspaced apart from said leaf spring, and side pieces on the sides ofthe saddle struck downwardly and disposed one on each side of said leaf spring.

17. The combination with a vehicle liaving an axle and a le f spring disposed above said ax and extending in a generaldirection therewith, of a 1 id lever having; its end pivotally atta md to said axle and liavii itively movable support for its other I pair of oppositely disposed recesses cut aid lever intermediate its ends and extending from the upper to the lower side thereof, means slidably disposed insaid recesses and having portions projecting above and below the longitudinal axis of said lever, a compression spring confined between one end of said means and said lever, and a pivotal connection betweenthe other end of saidmeans and one endiof said leaf spring below the generalplane of said leaf spring.

1.8. The combination with a vehicle having an axle and a leaf spring disposed above said a le and extending in a general direc tion tucrewith, of a lever having its outer end pivotally supportedby said axle and having a relatively iinovable support for its other end, a pair of oppositely disposed recesses cut in said lever intermediate its ends, means slidably disposed in saidrecesses and having portions projecting above andbelow the longitudinal axis of the lever, a spiral compression spring above said levers and confined between the upper end of said means and said lever, anda pivotal. connection between the lower end of said means and one end of said leaf spring.

19. The combination with a vehicle having an axle and a leaf spring disposed above said axle and extending in a ,generaldirection therewith, of a lever having its outer end pivotally supported by said axle and havinga relatively iinovable support for its othersaid axle and extending in a general. direc tion therewith, of a lever having its outer end pivotally supported by said axle and having a relatively movable support for its inner end, a spiral compression spring having its lower end seated upon said lever intermediate the ends thereof, a cap seated upon the upper end of said spiral spring, and a yoke straddling said lever and having a portion attached to said cap, the free ends of said yoke being disposed one on each side of one end of said leaf spring and pivotally attached at their lower ends thereto.

21. The rombination with a vehicle having an axle and a leaf spring overhanging same and extending in general direction therewith, of a lever having its outer end piv otally attached to said axle and supporting intermediate its ends one end of said leaf spring, a saddle having a substantially lower flat side slidably disposed on said leaf spring, and means supported by said saddle pivotally connected to said inner end of the lever below the leaf spring to constitute an underslung support, said means being movable relatively to both said saddle and said lever, with means to limit relative movement of said saddle and lever.

22. The con'ibination with a vehicle having an axle and a leaf spring overhanging the axle and extending in a general direction therewith, of an oscillatory lever having its outer end arranged to be pivotally supported by said axle and intermediate its ends resiliently supporting one end of said leaf spring, a saddle having a substantially lower flat side disposed on said leaf spring adjacent the inner end of said lever, and a pair of rigid links having their upper ends supported by said saddle and their lower ends pivotally connected to the inner end of the lever by a member extending transversely beneath the leaf spring.

23. The combination with a vehicle having an axle and a leaf spring overhanging said axle and extending in a general direction therewith, of a rigid oscillatory lever having its outer end fulcrumed upon said axle, a spiral compression spring carried by the lever between its ends, a pivotal connection between one end of said leaf spring and said spiral spring whereby the latter may yieldingly support the former, a saddle carried by said leaf spring adjacent the inner end of said lever, and inelastic oscillatable means interposed between said inner end of the lever and said saddle whereby the saddle may relatively movably support said inner end of the lever, said means being movable rela tively to both the saddle and the inner end of the lever and supporting the latter below the leaf spring.

24. The combination with a vehicle having an axle and a leaf spring disposed above the axle and extending in a general direction said end of the leaf spring, a saddle having a substantially flat lower side disposed on said leafspring ad1acent the inner end-of said lever and normally movable relatively to both said leaf spring and said lever along a line extending approximately parallel with the longitudinal axes thereof, and a pair of rigid links having their upper ends supported by said saddle above said leaf springand .their lower ends supporting said inner end of the lever below said leaf spring, said links being movable relative to both said saddle and said lever.

25. The combination with a vehicle having a leaf spring overhanging its axle and extending in a general direction therewith, of a rigid lever having its outer end arranged to be fulcrumed upon said axle and having a portion overhanging one end of said leaf spring, a spiral compression spring seated upon the lever between its ends, a link connection between said end of the leaf spring and said spiral spring whereby the latter may resiliently support the former, the inner end of said lever being bifurcated thereby forming a pair of arms disposed one on each side of said leaf spring and having their free ends attached below the leaf spring to a pair of inelastic links movable relatively thereto, and a pivotal connection between a portion of said links and means carried by said leaf spring.

26. In a shock absorber, a saddle for the purpose set forth, embracing a plate having upstanding, apertured, opposite pivot lugs, and provided with downwardly bent members adapted to embrace the sides of a leaf spring.

27. In a shock absorber, a saddle for the purpose set forth, embracing a plate haw ing upstanding, aperture'd, opposite pivot lugs, and provided with downwardly bent members adapted to embrace the sides of a leaf sprin said members being provided with pairs of opposing stop shoulders disposed outwardly from the planes of said downwardly bentmembers.

28. The combination with a lever having means to pivot its end to an axle assembly and adapted to extend at its other end lengthwise over a body spring, and means adapted to support the latter end on a part of a vehicle subject to rebound, of a coiled spring seated on said lever near its pivot end, oblique tension means acting on said spring and pivoted to the said body spring, said lever being provided with depending, spaced guide arms to form between them a guide space in line with said tension member to receive the connectioi'i between said body spring and tension member.

29. The combination with a lever having means to pivot its end toan axle ilSSGHlbl and adapted to extend at its other end lengthwise over a body spring. and means adapted to supportthe latter end on a part of a vehicle subject to rebound of a coiled spring seated on said level" near its pivot end, oblique tension means acting on said spring and pivoted to the said body spring, said lever being provided with depending spaced guide arms to form between them ,a guide space in line with said tension memher to receive the connection between said body spring and tension member, said lever being formed above said guide space with oppositely disposed guide recesses to receive said tension members.

30. In combination, an axle assembly, a body spring above and parallel. therewith, a lever pivoted at its outer end to'the axle assembly and supported at its inner end on a part of ti e vehicle subject to rebound,

a spring seated. on said lever, tension means connecting said spring to the end of the body spring, and a guide for said connection rigid with said lever and at all times parallel to said tension member for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE F. VOIGHT. 

